Finding God in the Dirt

How our mistakes can lead us back to the Father

So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.

Luke 15:20

Recently, I got myself into a situation that I knew wasn’t good for me. I had been asking God, begging God for as long as I can remember to take me out of my career as an attorney and to guide me to another. This had been a prayer I was praying for as long as I can remember. I truly believed that somehow God had made a mistake and that I belonged somewhere else.

But the more I prayed about leaving, the more successful I became in my profession. None of it made sense to me. This went on for years until finally I had enough. I walked away from my nearly twenty year law career into what I thought was a “better” life.

It’s funny how God gets your attention in the dirt

When you want things your way only to find out that life is not better on the side. In fact when you are not where you are supposed to be, life becomes unbearable. This is because the farther we are from God, the more we feel the effects of our disobedience, and the reality of choosing our will over God’s will.

Today, if you are in a situation where you find youself like the prodigal son, remember that God waits with open arms to receive you back, even as you are a a long way off. He does not chastise you, but instead embraces you with compassion.

And isn’t it comforting to know that we serve a God of mercy who is simply waiting for us to turn around and run back to Him? We are never far from God. We only need to turn and begin walking the other way.